Bhopal, Feb 26 (UNI) The ruling BJP in Madhya Pradesh welcomed the budget 2007-08 passed in the assembly today as development-oriented and balanced but the Opposition Congress attacked the budget as anti-poor and inflationary.

Power Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya said the budget will help accelerate the pace of development in the state. Transportation cost will come down as diesel price had been slashed in a bid to provide relief to common man.

Commerce and Industries Minister Babulal Gaur described the budget as balanced. He said the budget will boost industrial investment and infrastructure development.

He said the state government had provided for gender budget for the first time keeping in mind the welfare of women, who will be benefitted in terms of education and health.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Jamuna Devi said provisions for taxation in the budget will lead to price rise.

Alleging that the state government had cheated shikshakarmis and panchayat karmis, she alleged that the budget had failed to fulfill promises made to these sections.

The Opposition leader said the budget had not made adequate provisions for accumulating resources and development works and depends heavily on central schemes for the purpose.

Congress leader Satyadeo Katare said described the budget as anti-poor. He said tax levied on tyre, tube, readymade clothes, ghee and other necessary items will lead to price rise.

He felt reducing diesel price by Rs 2.75 was not enough to control price rise.

Congress' Arif Akil and Rajnarayan Singh lashed out at the budget for not making provisions for welfare of minorities, like measures for uplifting Imams and Urdu teachers in madarsas.

UNI